Over 190 Gen Z Protesters Freed On Sh1,000 Cash Bail As Court Sets July 2 Mention
News Updated: 27 June 2026 10:59 EAT
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More than 190 people arrested during the June 25 Gen Z anniversary demonstrations in Nairobi have been released on a cash bail of KSh1,000 each after appearing before the Milimani Law Courts. The protesters were charged with obstructing motor vehicles on public roads during the demonstrations, but all denied the charges. The court scheduled the matter for mention on July 2, 2026, for pre-trial directions.
The prosecution told the court that the accused persons unlawfully obstructed public roads by placing stones and burning tyres on major roads, including Jogoo Road in Makadara Sub-County and Landhies Road in Kamukunji Sub-County. Prosecutors argued that the actions disrupted the movement of motorists and contravened Section 58(c) of the Kenya Roads Act, 2007.
According to the charge sheets, the offences were allegedly committed jointly with other individuals who were not before the court. The State maintained that the roadblocks inconvenienced motorists and interfered with the normal flow of traffic during the nationwide protests marking the second anniversary of the 2024 anti-Finance Bill demonstrations.
The accused appeared before Senior Principal Magistrate Teresa Nyangena at the Milimani Law Courts, where they each entered pleas of not guilty. The court then heard submissions from both the prosecution and defence on the question of bail.
The defence team was led by Senior Counsel James Orengo, alongside former Law Society of Kenya President Faith Odhiambo, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and several other advocates. The lawyers urged the court to release all the accused on personal bond, arguing that they were not flight risks and would attend court whenever required.
Orengo further told the court that he was prepared to personally guarantee the attendance of the accused throughout the trial. He argued that imposing financial conditions on the protesters was unnecessary given the circumstances surrounding their arrest.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions opposed the application for personal bond. Prosecuting counsel Victor Owiti argued that many of the accused had not sufficiently established their places of residence, making it difficult to guarantee their attendance during future court proceedings.
After considering the submissions, Magistrate Nyangena declined the request for personal bond but granted each accused person release on a cash bail of KSh1,000. The court directed that the matter be mentioned on July 2 for further directions before the hearing proceeds.
The arrests followed nationwide demonstrations held on June 25 to commemorate the second anniversary of the Gen Z-led anti-government protests that swept across Kenya in 2024. Thousands of people took part in demonstrations across several counties, with security agencies deploying heavily to major towns.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen later said that 355 people had been arrested nationwide in connection with the protests, with Nairobi recording the highest number of arrests. The government also reported injuries to police officers and civilians, while investigations into offences allegedly committed during the demonstrations remain ongoing.
The prosecution is expected to provide further disclosure to the defence when the case returns to court on July 2. The court will then issue additional pre-trial directions before determining the next stage of the criminal proceedings.
The case has drawn significant public attention amid continued debate over the policing of public demonstrations, the constitutional right to peaceful assembly, and the treatment of those arrested during the June 25 anniversary protests.
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FELIX MAKONA
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